It’s because WR Michael Crabtree’s foot is hurt worse than expected, and the paper’s sources say he’ll miss four to six weeks of training camp and the preseason. He'll be placed on the team's Physically Unable to Perform list.

The foot originally caused him to sit out a few offseason workouts with his team. From that story, the injury didn’t seem like a big deal.

Apparently, the cause of his injury is because the cleats he wore Monday were too new and he hadn’t broken them in yet, a problem compounded by the Fieldturf at San Jose State.

“Everybody's good. Crabtree's all right," WR Josh Morgan told the San Jose Mercury News. "His feelings aren't hurt. Nothing wrong with him. Just his feet were too sore to come out here. That's all it is."

In retrospect, the old “hey, it’s just his new shoes” excuse is pretty flimsy.

Either way, this continues a pretty awful offseason for Crabtree (you'll remember that he dissed QB Alex Smith at one point) -- who, so far, has had a pretty unimpressive career as a first-round pick. Perhaps one reason for that is because Crabtree is never around in the preseason.

In his rookie season, he sat out 71 days during a contract dispute, and last season, he missed all four preseason games after injuring his neck during practice.

Now, without Crabtree or Ochocinco, Morgan becomes Smith’s No. 1 target for the time being.

Post Deleted by Administrator

Michael Crabtree out 4-6 weeks; put on PUP list

crabtree can not met his potentail if he doesnt want to practice and stays focused more on money and everything elses more. not to ment habe alex smith at qb its extremely detremental.

Since: Oct 26, 2010

Posted on: July 29, 2011 11:18 am

Michael Crabtree out 4-6 weeks; put on PUP list

there are still quality recievers to after. have to say would be pretty risky bring in .to or moss though steve smith giants, mark clayton, braylon edwards would all be good #1wr

Since: Jan 10, 2007

Posted on: July 29, 2011 11:15 am

Michael Crabtree out 4-6 weeks; put on PUP list

The Raiders were absolutely crucified for taking Darius Heyward-Bey over Crabtree, and there's little dispute that Heyward-Bey is a bust who runs a 4.3. But Crabtree's 6 TDs last season camoflauge the fact that he averaged a meager 13.5 YPC. At least H-B is not a malcontent. Crabtree is not nearly the player he was touted as being coming out of college.

Since: Jul 9, 2011

Posted on: July 29, 2011 9:57 am

Michael Crabtree out 4-6 weeks; put on PUP list

Interesting. This is the first I've heard of a guy sustaining a relatively serious foot injury due to not breaking a pair of cleats in. I think it's a good thing the Niners didn't acquire Ochocinco though. He'd be even faster to throw Alex Smith under the bus than Crabtree. Just sayin'.

Since: Dec 2, 2007

Posted on: July 29, 2011 12:57 am

Michael Crabtree out 4-6 weeks; put on PUP list

Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy. HA!

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